Katimavik Needs You

This is a post I never thought I'd have to write.

In the federal budget tabled today (March 29), funding for Katimavik was cancelled.  This program, with a more than 30 year history of helping communities across our country is in serious danger.

To give you an idea of how important the program is, I'd like to share some things that happened during and after my time in the program.

During my time in Wawa, the town of my first rotation, my group helped with a hugely successful food drive, with much of the food coming in by the hamperful.  It was a really fun day spent as a group, one for which I know I have photos somewhere and would happily share once I find them.

In Trois-Rivieres, a memorable event that actually involved a couple of groups in the area was our Earth Day activity, in which we held a massive park cleanup.  No piece of litter was left untouched, and for being the two groups, it was a fun day to hang out and have a good time while doing something for the community.

Lastly, in Deer Lake, perhaps the first thing to come to mind was our traditional "Screeching" ceremony.  We had a couple of families from the town over to our home in town, where we had a traditional Newfoundland meal of Fish and Brewis, topped off with the ceremony.  It was a rather humorous event that we again shared with another group, but one that sticks greatly in my memory (and really, how else would I have a chance to say I kissed a cod?)

In 2007, I attended the Alberta Voluntary Sector Conference as a delegate for Katimavik, and was told countless stories of how participants like I once was helped groups from all corners of the province.  This is one of the few times in the course of my time after Katimavik that I had occasion to speak with represenatives of community partners, but reinforced in my mind the importance of the program.

On countless occasions since the end of the program, I've met numerous other alumni who have all shared a similar view that the program has had a hugely positive impact on their lives.  I'm sure I can speak for them in saying that it was a huge part of our lives.

We cannot afford to deny this opportunity to youth and community groups.

I urge you to contact your MP, Heritage Minister James Moore and Prime Minister Stephen Harper to speak out against these cuts.

With your help, we can make this happen.